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7 Best Payment Gateways in the UK in 2024

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In 2021, ecommerce comprised 30% of the UK's total retail market, with revenue projected to reach $194.1 billion by 2027.

If you're considering joining the booming UK ecommerce market, you need to have payment gateways that cater to UK online transactions in place. 

That said, the ideal gateways should accept the UK’s popular online payment methods, including credit and debit cards – with Visa, Mastercard®, and Amex topping the card chart – and PayPal.

But with so many options, which payment gateway is best for your online business? This article rounds up the list of the top 6 payment gateways in the UK, comparing their features, fees, and pros & cons, along with tips on how to choose the right one. 

Let’s get into it.

What Is a Payment Gateway? 

A payment gateway is an interface that collects, encrypts, and authenticates customers’ payment information.

To break it down, when customers enter their payment details – such as card information – to make a purchase, the gateway verifies that data and proceeds to the payment processor and then to the business owner's account upon approval. If there is a discrepancy, the funds stay with the customers. 

It acts as an intermediary that protects both parties during the financial exchange.

📖 Tip: Check out our guides on payment gateways and what payment service providers are for more info

  Best Feature Notable Accepted Payment Methods  Fees
Revolut Logo A suite of complementary financial products
Segregated currency accounts 
Competitive fees 
Cards - Visa, Mastercard®

Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay

Revolut Pay

Tap to Pay on iPhone

QR code 
1%-2.8% plus 20p
Fondy logo Seamless payment flows for platforms, marketplaces and online businesses, offering smart business accounts with split payments, instant payouts and settlements at an affordable cost Cards - Visa/Mastercard

Digital wallets - Apple Pay, GPay

iDeal, Klarna

Bank Transfer

Tap2Phone
1.4% plus 20p
Planet logo Globally available, reliable and secure

Revenue-generation through currency conversion

Tokenization

3D Secure & PSD2
Cards – Visa, MasterCard&reg, Diners, Discover, JCB, Maestro, PaySafecard, Postfinance

Digital wallets – Apple Pay and Google Pay
Competitive fees apply
PayPal logo Global reach Cards - Visa, MasterCard®

PayPal balance

QR code   
1.2% - 2.9% plus fixed fees
Worldpay logo A range of payment method choices
24/7/365 customer service
Cards - Visa, Mastercard®, Amex, Discover, and Diners

Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay

Pay By Link

Virtual Terminal 
1.3% plus 20p      Or 1.5% plus a monthly fee of GBP 19.95 
Opayo logo Flexible plans to choose from
A niche focus in airlines, hospitality, restaurants, transportation, and retail sectors.
Cards - All major cards

PayPal Pay By Link 
0.99% plus GBP 25 monthly fee 
Or 1.99% plus fixed fees 
Stripe logo Numerous payment options and extensions Cards - Visa, Mastercard®,  Amex, JCB, Discover, Diners, Maestro, UnionPay

Digital wallet - Apple Pay, Google Pay and more

International cards

Buy Now Pay Later - Afterpay

Local payment methods - SEPA payments and more
1% or 1.25 - 3.25% plus 20p
An additional 2% if required conversion

Note: All information provided below is dated 21 December 2023  and may have been updated since. Please check each payment gateway’s website for the latest information.

1. Revolut

Screenshot of Revolut website

Revolut is a Lithuania-licensed neobank regulated within the European Union, with a headquarters in London. 

It provides various financial products and services designed to help customers spend, save, invest, borrow, and manage their money, all in a single app, catering to personal and business use.

One of Revolut’s business services is the Revolut payment gateway, which allows business owners to create a smooth checkout experience for customers. 

Revolut Top Features

  • Accept payments in 25+ currencies into segregated currency accounts
  • Accept, settle, and track payments in one dashboard
  • Payment links feature
  • Next-day settlement
  • API, widgets, and plugins designed for merchants
  • Integration with Bigcommerce, Woocommerce, Magento, Opencart, and PrestaShop 
  • PCI DSS compliance 

Revolut Accepted Payment Methods

  • Credit and debit cards - Visa, Mastercard®, UK consumer cards, international cards
  • Digital wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay
  • Revolut Pay - Customers can pay directly from their Revolut account or any cards. All approved Revolut Merchant accounts can enjoy this benefit. 
  • Tap to Pay on your iPhone. 
  • QR code 

Revolut Key Usage Fees

Payment Method Amount
UK consumer cards 1% + 20p
International and commercial cards 2.8% + 20p
Revolut Pay 1% + 20p
Easy bank transfer 1% + 20p (fee cap GBP 1 per transaction)

Please refer to Revolut Card Acceptance Pricing for full details.  

💡 Tip: Revolut also offers custom pricing to suit users’ business models. Contact Revolut for more information. 

Revolut Pros and Cons

Pros of Revolut

  • A diverse suite of associated financial products and services
  • Competitive fees 

Cons of Revolut

  • Supports fewer countries compared to competitors

2. Fondy

A screenshot of Fondy's website

Fondy processes payments in currencies used by over 200 countries. Payments can be made on websites, online stores, Android and iOS, plus mobile apps – wherever and however shoppers want to buy, you’re ready for them.

Fondy’s Top Features

Whether you're a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or large-scale corporation, there are plenty of features to your benefit. These include

  • Flexible Payout 
  • Instant settlement
  • Split payments
  • Embedded wallets
  • Instant payouts, (like2like currencies) 
  • Reports, customer insights and data management
  • Access to various business tools
  • 24/7/365 contact centre customer service 
  • KYC and KYB checks for B2B partners
  • PCI DSS compliance

Fondy Accepted Payment Methods

  • Visa/Mastercard
  • Digital wallets, Apple Pay, GPay
  • iDeal
  • Klarna
  • Bank Transfer
  • Open Banking 
  • QR code
  • Payment link
  • Tap2Phone

Fondy Key Usage Fees

Payment Method Amount
Debit & credit cards 1.4% + GBP 0.20
Domestic commercial cards 2% + GBP 0.20
Alternative payment methods 0.5% + GBP 0.20
Bank transfers 0.6% + GBP 0.20

Please refer to Fondy Detailed Pricing for full details.  

💡 Tip: Fondy also offers custom pricing to suit users’ business models. Contact Fondy for more information.

Fondy Pros and Cons

Pros of Fondy

  • Fondy Business Accounts including IBANs, embedded wallets for partner reconciliation and instant payouts
  • Cash flow management aids such as split payments, instant payouts and settlements
  • Local payment schemes for payments and payouts

Cons of Fondy

  • Currently taking clients from UK and EU only

3. Planet

A screenshot of Planet's website

Planet connects payments with business-critical software for world-leading retail and hospitality brands. Whether it’s on an online checkout for ecommerce, a booking engine for a hotel, or a secure payment link to sell your goods or services, Planet’s online gateway enables you to accept payments online – from anyone, anywhere.

Unlike typical online gateways, Planet is designed specifically for retail and hospitality businesses, offering global reach, scalability, and availability to thrive in fast-paced environments. This enables merchants to meet the preferences of online shoppers and build trust by safeguarding their card data, all while reducing cart abandonment.

Planet Top Features

  • Low-code integration with top ecommerce platforms, such as Shopify, Woocommerce, Magento, Salesforce, Shopware, Prestashop, and more
  • Multi-currency (100+ currencies supported)
  • Developer-friendly: JSON API & Mobile SDK
  • PCI DSS Complaint
  • Secure Fields
  • For hotels: Pay-by-link without a website
  • Retain control: Payments pages embedded without diluting your branding. Shoppers stay on a user-friendly page rather than being redirected to a 3rd party window.
  • Generate additional revenue through Dynamic Currency Conversion services
  • Languages support: English, German, French, Italian
  • Technical help from dedicated account management

Planet Accepted Payment Methods

  • Credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard®, American Express, Discover, Diners, Union Pay, JCB, Maestro, Paysafecard, Postfinance Card
  • Local payment methods: Twint
  • Alternative payment methods: Klarna, iDeal, AliPay+)
  • Digital wallets – Apple Pay and Google Pay

Planet Usage Fees

Currently, no public information on the fees is available on the website. You must contact the sales page to learn more.

Planet Pros and Cons

Pros of Planet

  • Globally available and reliable online gateway.

Cons of Planet

  • You must contact the sales team to see the fees

4. PayPal

Screenshot of PayPal's website

PayPal is a well-trusted online payment system used by more than 200 million active users worldwide. 

Many use PayPal as a digital wallet for online shopping or to send and receive money among personal contacts. However, PayPal also offers services beyond personal use, which is called "PayPal for Business."

PayPal for Business is designed for both small businesses and enterprises. It helps businesses accept payments, as well as provides extra value-added merchant services like risk management, shipping labels, and working capital. 

PayPal Top Features  

  • Over 100 million customers worldwide
  • Accept payment online, in-person, by QR code, by phone, and by email
  • Collect payment via social media and chat
  • Recurring payment and subscription feature
  • Simplify payouts, with PayPal handling currency conversions (fees may apply according to user agreement)
  • "Pay in 3" installment payment feature (subject to approval and for UK residents only) 
  • Point-of-sales card reader applicable
  • PayPal Buyer and Seller Protection
  • PCI DSS compliance 

PayPal Accepted Payment Methods

  • Credit and debit cards - Visa and MasterCard®
  • PayPal balance
  • QR code 

PayPal Key Usage Fees

Payment Method Amount
Card transactions from users without a PayPal account (conditions applied) 1.2% + fixed fees based on currency (GBP 0.30 for UK pounds)
QR code transactions with amounts equal to or below GBP 10.00 2% + fixed fees based on currency (GBP 0.10 for UK pounds)
QR code transactions with amounts above GBP 10.01 1.5% + fixed fees based on currency (GBP 0.30 for UK pounds)
Other commercial transactions  2.9% + fixed fees based on currency
International transaction: EEA an additional 1.29%
International transaction: other markets an additional 1.99%

For Alternative Payment Methods (APM) and other fee types, please refer to the PayPal Merchants Fees page.

💡 Tip: Use PayPal Fee Calculator to estimate PayPal payment processing fees.

PayPal Pros and Cons

Pros of PayPal

  • Global reach, with large market and currencies 
  • Seamless integration with PayPal payment option, which is the second most popular payment method in the UK.

Cons of PayPal

  • Complex fee system 

5.Worldpay

Screenshot of Worldpay's website

Worldpay, now known as "Worldpay from FIS," following its acquisition by the Fortune 500 company FIS, is a global payment provider with over 30 years of experience prioritising simplicity and customer-centricity.

Worldpay’s solutions cater to platforms, businesses, and enterprises. It has facilitated over 130 million transactions for more than a million merchants across the globe. 

Although operated worldwide, it specialises in being a payment gateway provider in the United Kingdom.

Worldpay also provides dedicated support for UK territory.

Worldpay Top Features

  • 126 currencies
  • Next-day business settlement
  • Dashboard to manage settlements
  • Insights into customer spending patterns 
  • Access to various business tools
  • “Worldpay Ecommerce” design for online checkout experience 
  • Hosted payment page 
  • Point-of-sale card machines
  • “Worldpay Rewards” offers discounts at various UK retailers, both in physical stores and online.
  • 24/7/365 contact centre customer service 
  • PCI DSS compliance 

Worldpay Accepted Payment Methods

Worldpay accepts over 300 payment methods. However, note that you may want to contact Worldpay for more details regarding the options. 

  • Credit and debit cards - Visa, Mastercard®, American Express, Discover, and Diners
  • Digital Wallets - Apple Pay, Google Pay 
  • Built-in Pay By Link 
  • Virtual Terminal 

Worldpay Key Usage Fees

Worldpay primarily offers tailored pricing plans depending on business needs. However, you can refer to the standard pricing listed below as a reference.

Fee Type Amount 
Worldpay Payment Gateway
Visa and Mastercard® transactions  1.5%
Online Gateway Fee GBP 19.95 per month
Upfront fee No
Worldpay Ecommerce
Visa and Mastercard® transactions  1.3% + 20p
Set up fee No

💡Tip: You can use this indicative online pricing quote as a starter and contact Worldpay sales to request more information tailored to your business model.

Worldpay Pros and Cons

Pros of Worldpay

  • A range of payment method options
  • Highly available customer support

Cons of Worldpay

  • Limited details on payment methods
  • Although they provide some information on standard pricing, the full details are quote-only. 

6. Opayo

Screenshot of Opayo's website

Opayo, formerly Sage Pay, is a payment solution provider owned by the financial services firm “Elavon,” a subsidiary of US Bancorp. It is in the UK, other European countries, and North America.

Opayo is experienced in serving the airlines, hospitality, restaurants, transport, and retail sectors. They operate in 36 countries, serving over 2 million customers and processing 6.6 billion transactions.

Opayo Top Features

  • Support 100+currencies 
  • Accept payment online, over the phone, or in person
  • Payment links feature
  • Hosted payment page
  • Tailored payments process
  • Recurring payment feature
  • Support multi-currency conversion
  • Integration with top ecommerce platforms, including Shopify, Woocommerce, Magento, Salesforce, and more
  • Virtual terminal available
  • APIs
  • 24/7 telephone support
  • PCI DSS compliance 

Opayo Accepted Payment Methods

  • Cards - All major cards
  • PayPal
  • Pay By Link 

Opayo Key Usage Fees

Fee Type Amount 
Fixed Plan
Monthly fees GBP 25
Transaction fee (Subject to card turnover) From 0.99%
Joining fee No
Pay-as-you-go Plan
Monthly fees No
Transaction fee (Subject to card turnover) From 1.99%
Gateway click-fee GBP 0.12 
One-off joining fee GBP 99 

💡 Tip: Please refer to the Opayo Pricing Plan page for full details

Opayo Pros and Cons 

Pros of Opayo

  • Offer both fixed and pay-as-you-go plan, which caters to different business models
  • Specialise in airlines, hospitality, restaurants, transport, and retail industry

Cons of Opayo

  • Limited details on payment methods

7. Stripe

Screenshot of Stripe's website

The last one on our list is Stripe, another well-known business choice. It provides integrated payment solutions for online and in-person transactions, subscription services, marketplaces, and more. 

Beyond payments, Stripe also offers services like invoicing, card issuance, and expense management.

Stripe global offices manage hundreds of billions of dollars every year.

Stripe Top Features

  • Accepting payments digitally and face-to-face globally
  • Built-in conversion optimisations, with dynamic payment methods and localised messages based on customer location and local currency, plus automatic input field adjustment. No custom logic is needed.
  • 100+ payment methods
  • One-click checkout with Link
  • Payment links, which enable merchants to accept payment even without a website 
  • Access over 450 platforms and extensions to streamline and automate nearly all manual tasks
  • API and SDK
  • PCI DSS compliance 

Stripe Accepted Payment Methods

  • Credit and debit cards - Visa, Mastercard®, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners, Maestro, UnionPay
  • Digital wallet - Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay
  • International cards
  • Buy Now Pay Later - Afterpay
  • Local payment methods - Bancontact, Giroplay, SEPA payments, and more

Stripe Key Usage Fees

Fee Types Amount 
Standard UK cards 1.5% + 20p
EU Card 2.5% + 20p
Link 1.2%+20p 
European Economic Area card 2.5% + 20p + 2% if currency conversion is required
International cards  3.25% + 20p + 2% if currency conversion is required
Local payment methods 1%

Please refer to the Stripe fees page for full details.

Stripe also offers a customizable pricing package for businesses with high transactions. Fill in your information on the Stripe Sales Page to get in touch with the sales support team. 

💡 Tip: Use this Stripe Fee Calculator to estimate the fees you may need to pay when accepting payment with Stripe.

Stripe Pros and Cons 

Pros of Stripe

  • A vast choice of payment methods and extensions

Cons of Stripe

  • Some features have limitations. For example, corporate cards are US-invited only. 
  • “Financial Connection” for streamlined payments and “Treasure” banking API are also not yet offered in the UK. 
A list of currencies supported by the Statrys business account

What Matters in a Payment Gateway Provider?

To explain how we came up with the recommendation, let's see an overview of the primary things to consider when picking a payment gateway.

Security

Your customers' financial and personal data requires the highest level of security. A breach not only results in operational interruptions but also brings legal complications, financial challenges, and, most critically, loss of trust.

Here are important security considerations for secure payment: 

  • Solid Encryption - Encryption employs algorithms to convert data into a coded format only authorised parties can decode. 
  • Authentication - Authentication is the process of confirming the identities of individuals making payments. This can involve methods like passwords, PINs, or advanced biometric solutions.
  • Proactive fraud prevention - Real-time transaction monitoring and instant alerts to detect and respond to any suspicious activities.
  • Compliance with PCI DSS - Ensure strict compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a comprehensive standard that governs the secure handling of credit card data from major card brands.

Here are some questions you could ask providers to get an idea of their security measures

  • How do you protect my and my customer’s data? 
  • How do you monitor and prevent fraud and cyberattacks?
  • How do you handle data breaches? What policies and procedures do you have in place?

💡 Tip: For more information, explore this list of top security to protect your ecommerce website.

A Great UX/UI

Ecommerce faces a significant issue of 70% shopping cart abandonment, partly attributed to the complicated checkout process.

That's why it's important for customers to have an easy and user-friendly payment experience with just a few clicks and no distractions.

Likewise, an administrative panel that allows you to easily manage transactions, refunds, reports, and other features matters to you. 

Here are questions you can ask providers to understand their UX/UI:

  • Which choices and features are available for modifying the appearance and user experience of the payment page?
  • Does the payment page work well on different devices, browsers, and screen sizes? 
  • What's included in the admin dashboard?

💡 Tip: Check out these effective strategies for enhancing conversion rates in the checkout process.

Integration Capability 

Another essential factor to consider is how well a payment gateway works with your existing systems, like your website, online store, CRM, and other ecommerce platforms.

Common integration methods include

  • API (Application Programming Interface) - API is a set of protocols that enables different software programs to exchange data with your platform. Simply put, a developer can utilise different APIs to simplify their program. These APIs handle user requests, send them to the service provider, and then deliver the service provider's results to the intended user.
  • SDK (Software Development Kit) - Think of SDK as a toolbox for developers, comprising code libraries and such. Developers can use this toolbox to build apps for specific systems, in this case, to customise how the payment gateway works.
  • Documentation - Documentation is a guide that explains how to use the payment gateway's tools, like the API and SDK.
  • Technical Help - If you run into any technical problems, it's crucial that the payment gateway provider has a support team available to assist you in fixing those issues.

Here are some questions you could ask providers to understand how well their products can integrate with your system

  • Which programming languages, frameworks, and tools do you support for integrating your payment gateway?
  • How do you handle updates, upgrades, or changes to your payment gateway or its features?

Pricing Model

The most common payment gateway pricing models in the UK are a subscription plan and a pay-as-you-go plan. However, both plans typically come with transaction fees, which are calculated for each and every transaction.

Subscription plans may offer lower transaction fees, but this comes at the cost of having to pay a monthly fee. Conversely, pay-as-you-go models usually don’t collect monthly fees, but you might pay more per transaction.

To make the right choice for your business, consider your sales volume, transaction size, and growth expectations

As a general rule, subscription plans are better for those with high and consistent sales, while pay-as-you-go suits businesses with low volume or irregular sales.

Factor in other fees as well. This includes setup fees, chargeback fees, refund fees, international payment fees, card processing fees, add-on service fees, and all other possible hidden fees. 

Our suggestion is to request a quote and get in touch with customer support to address any questions you may have. 

Such questions could relate to the breakdown of fees, how fees are applied, whether there are volume discounts or tiered pricing, and how the eligibility criteria work. Ultimately, these fees should not significantly impact your profitability in the long run.

Examples of questions you could ask are:

  • What services are included in the monthly fees?
  • Are there setup, cancellation, or early termination fees, and when do they apply?
  • How are fees handled for international transactions?
  • Do you charge any fees for your value-added service fees, such as fraud prevention, data security, reporting, analytics, or customer support? 
  • How will you invoice me for the fees and charges? 

💡 Tip: If you handle a large number of transactions, consider contacting potential service providers to inquire about volume discounts.

Reliable Support 

It's a reality in business that you will run into problems. 

When it comes to payment processing, expect issues like compatibility problems, operational glitches, disputes, refunds, and unexpected fees.

A reliable payment service provider should offer a support team that can promptly address and resolve those issues. They should also have good availability and flexibility in terms of contact channels, such as phone, email, and live chat.

Here are some questions you could ask providers to assess potential problems and inquire about their support, such as 

  • How do you ensure the reliability and performance of your service? 
  • What is your uptime guarantee?
  • What methods of contact are available? 
  • What is your customer support’s average response time?

Conclusion

To sum it up, we've covered the top 6 payment gateway in the UK, including Revolut, PayPal, Worldpay, Opayo, and Stripe.

Apart from considering security, user experience, compatibility, pricing, and customer service, it’s crucial to cater to popular UK payment methods like card payments, especially Visa and Mastercard®. 

Whether you prioritise integration capability, pricing flexibility, or reliable support, we hope this article helps you find a solution that suits your needs and gets you ready to position your business to thrive in the UK ecommerce market! 

Integrations supported by the Statrys business account.

FAQs

What are the best online payment gateways in the UK?

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Our picks for the best online payment gateways in the UK are Revolut,  PayPal, Planet, Worldpay, Opayo, and Stripe.

We selected these names because they are prominent in the UK, offering robust security measures, integration capabilities, and support for most of the UK's preferred payment methods.

What is the most commonly used payment method in the UK?

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Is Stripe available in the UK?

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Why is a payment gateway important?

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Disclaimer

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Reviewed by
Bertrand Théaud
Fact checked by
Djon Ly

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